Rethinking the Healthcare Facilities: The Role of the Buffer Space.
Marco Gola, Alexander Achille Johnson, Daniele Ignazio La Milia, Chiara Cadeddu, Francesco Bardini, Barbara Bianconi, Raffaella Bisceglia, Marcello Di Pumpo, Cristina Genovese, Albino Grieco, Giuseppe Piras, Rocco Guerra, Gianfranco Damiani, Carlo Favaretti, Maria Teresa Montagna, Stefano Capolongo, Walter Ricciardi
Author Information
Marco Gola: Design & Health Lab, Department of Architecture, Built environment and Construction engineering (DABC), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy. ORCID
Alexander Achille Johnson: Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeon, New York, NY, USA. ORCID
Daniele Ignazio La Milia: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
Chiara Cadeddu: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
Francesco Bardini: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
Barbara Bianconi: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
Raffaella Bisceglia: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
Marcello Di Pumpo: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
Cristina Genovese: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
Albino Grieco: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe Piras: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
Rocco Guerra: ASL Bari, Bari, Italy.
Gianfranco Damiani: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
Carlo Favaretti: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
Maria Teresa Montagna: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Stefano Capolongo: Design & Health Lab, Department of Architecture, Built environment and Construction engineering (DABC), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Walter Ricciardi: Post graduate course "Hospital Healthcare Management" (II ed.), Advanced School of Economics and Management of Health Systems (ALTEMS), Rome, Italy.
OBJECTIVES: A working group conducted a survey on the use of the principle of buffer space (BS), which in case of emergencies, could benefit healthcare settings. The aim of the preliminary investigation is to define new research lines in hospitals' functional design. BACKGROUND: The global experience of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted challenges faced by hospitals when responding promptly to emergencies, including spatial reorganization and suspension of ordinary medical activities for ensuring adequate management of the emergency surge of patients. METHODS: The group designed questionnaires to be administered to healthcare staff and healthcare designers aimed at understanding varied conceptions and features of BSs. Content across the two surveys overlapped significantly, allowing for direct comparisons of responses, while also including tailored questions in relation to the respective experience and skills of the two groups of respondents. RESULTS: 102 healthcare professionals and 56 designers took part to the survey. Analysis of the responses permitted for initial recommendations regarding BS typology including (a) proximity to the emergency department (ED), intensive care units (ICUs), and inpatient wards (IWs); (b) location within hospitals but separate from other medical areas; (c) need for independent access; (d) organizational and spatial features similar to ED, ICUs, and IWs; (e) existing as a fully flexible operational space; and (f) BS bed capacity to be approximately 12% of ED beds. CONCLUSIONS: Although the analysis is related to the Italian context, the expansion of this preliminary research to alternate healthcare facilities and geographic areas is necessary for reaching a wide consensus by different professionals on this field. It serves as a starting point for future investigations regarding the implementation of BS in hospital settings.
